Saturday, April 04, 2015

In less than an hour, the finalists for the 2015 Hugo Awards will be announced. You can watch the livestream here. Regardless of what happens, I encourage everyone to remain calm, cool, and collected. If we fail, so be it. Kate the Impaler is leading Sad Puppies 4 for 2016 and the long march continues. If we succeed, then that is one more strong point broken, but many still remain. The long march continues.

Whether we are beaten back this time or we break through the enemy lines and leave them reeling in disbelief and disarray, we will continue to methodically and patiently advance. We will defeat the SJWs in science fiction, we will break the stranglehold of the gatekeepers, we will reclaim the genre for freedom of speech, thought, and association, and we will continue to expose the pretenses and posturings and pernicious accusations of the SJWs for the lies that they are.

And in doing so, we will show others, in other industries and areas of the culture, that not only is resistance possible, but that it is possible to reclaim long-lost ground. We will show them that even a small number of people who are willing to stand up and say "you shall not pass" can make a real and substantive difference.

I spent the afternoon putting together two ebooks by Jerry Pournelle that Castalia will be releasing later this month. Going through them helped me put into perspective how much has changed in science fiction and across the West since the early 1980s, most of it distinctly not for the better. Like us, those books have lain dormant for over a decade. But they are coming back. So are we.

Ancillary Sword, The Dark Between the Stars, The Goblin Emperor, Lines of Departure, Skin Game

Thanks so much to all the Rabid Puppies and Sad Puppies for your support. Without you, this cultural revolution in science fiction and fantasy would not have gotten off the ground. And for those feeling left out, you'll be glad to know that it does not end here. If you aren't already marching with the Evil Legion of Evil, you can vote in the finals this year and for next year's nominations too by registering for a Supporting Membership with Sasquan.

I think you'll find that at $40, it offers a considerable quantity of entertainment value for the dollar.

My favorite part about the whole thing was that one of the few SJW works to make it on the shortlist was Sex Criminals 1. That's astonishing, especially in light of the recent revelations concerning Marion Zimmer Bradley and Ed Kramer.

I am following along on Brad Torgerson's List...He's batting over 80%!and I am laughing, too, to see fiction I LIKE on the list at last!They have a RECORD ballot count, and they are "delighted" to achieve this number...I don't think they achieved it without Wendell's help.

Sex Criminals is a comic book. SJW fugly slut justification with so-so art. Next year if we aren't nominating some comic books I'll bitch and moan. Comicon is turning into a SJW love thyfatgayself fest.

Also, I have to say I'm not particularly looking forward to whatever form the Hugo packet takes this year. There are a couple of nominees in Best Novel I'd like to read, but I'm happy to buy those when funds and time permit, but the rest, I can mostly do without.

Not that we didn't know this, but not the 'I'm voting no award' and "I'm not going to read them' all in the same breath. Remember this when they accuse us of this.

The SJW puling on Twitter is hilarious. The crybabies will be voting "No Award" in record numbers like the intolerant, dishonest, pouty children we all know they are."

Encourage others to join Sasquan for $40 and read the nominee works. Drown out "No Award" with votes for works that deserve the recognition. You will be able to nominate in 2016 for the price of registration this year.

Thank you, Lord, for Vox. He may not be the finest Christian, and self-confessedly so, but he is the Christian we needed. Thank You for building up such an intelligent and proactive Christian to lead us by example in defending the Church, the body of Your Only Begotten Son. Thank You for the gift of your Son, who was crucified and raised. Bless Vox and the Ilk, and those who will stand up on behalf of the Church and so batter the gates of Hell until the evil ones are too terrified to step out past them again. Guide us in speaking Truth and witnessing of the Light. Guide us in building an infrastructure and economy against which our enemies will be completely ineffective. Encourage our enemies in turning on themselves, on destroying themselves, and ruining all that which they took over, that they will either face Your judgment or fall to their knees, humbled, and seek Your mercy and grace by confessing Your Son's Lordship. In His Name, Amen.

Hey, Waitaminnit! If they couldn't control the nominations, what makes them think that they'll be able to drown out the sound of suddenly happy puppies by voting No Award?

You've already outvoted them. You can be sure that the SMOFs colluded behind the scenes on a consolidated slate. They knew SP3 was coming. They still couldn't out-maneuver or outvote it.

That means they will not be able to work sufficiently behind the scenes to change the final outcome. therefore, they will have to do their hate-filled vituperation out in the open, where it can be challenged and corrected.

They've already lost, and they know it.Just to be sure though, I now have to spend the money to buy a membership. I really can't afford it, but the the SJW tears of unfathomable sadness are just too delicious.

My error; I guess they will marshall behind a story about some amazingly tough soldier who uses amazingly tough stolen equipment until someone betrays her and she must choose between a millionaire playboy and a millionaire handyman.

Expendable: Nah, we won't burn you just for being an atheist. As long as you understand that Christianity is the foundation of western civilization as we used to know it, the civilization that grew and prospered so successfully, and as long as you contribute to this civilization and respect it and Christianity, you'll be fine. We won't force you to convert. But if you want western civilization, you must share at least most of our values. Those values are part of why western civilization was so successful, and in sharing our values, you will have some commonality with us on which we can relate as friends.

Under Best Fan Artist, it's Steve Stiles (with an "i"). Steve was a prolific fan artist in the early 60s; I published a lot of his excellent work in my fanzines. I don't know why he's being nominated 50 years later – not up on the current scene – but I guess he's still active. He posts regularly along with other old friends on a private mailing list; I see he just got back from Corflu (a small "fanzine fan" oriented con, this year in England).

Sorry, Rabbits, but those of us of the Puppy persuasion, be we Sad, Rabid, or otherwise, are ACCUSTOMED to producing results and achieving success, and both organize and act in such a way to maximize achievement of same.

Oh, and it helps that we generally have sufficient disposable income to buy Supporting or Attending Memberships. . . (evil grin)

Wouldn't it have been horrible if we'd nominated something that kept such a meritorious work off the ballot?

I can't even IMAGINE doing that in face of the scandal. I just don't get it. How could you be in the midst of an abuse scandal and then vote a book of drawings titled sex crimes in as best art? I feel sad for them. And I will probably go. I want to cheer when sad puppies finally laugh.

Recommended 60 nominees; 51 made the final ballot and 9 did not.RABID PUPPIES 2015

Recommended 67 nominees; 58 made the final ballot and 9 did not.COMBINED SCORECARD

A total of 61 nominees from both slates made the final ballot.This consists of 48 items recommended by both lists; 3 items only on Sad Puppies; and 10 only on Rabid Puppies.Failing to make the final ballot were 4 items recommended on both lists, plus 5 items that only appeared on Rabid Puppies.NOT APPEARING ON EITHER LIST

Congrats to Vox Day, Castalia House, Tom Kratman, John C. Wright, Rolf Nelson, and Jeffro! And Larry Correia, for proving that this isn't about awards, but good stories and actual diversity (creatively and politically).

To follow up on Alexander's posts, 4 of the puppy entrees may have failed to gain nominations because of eligibility issues:

Best Short Story: “Tuesdays With Molakesh the Destroyer” – Megan Grey –is eligible in 2015, not this year. Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form): Coherence – IMDB shows this as a 2013 release. Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form): Supernatural: “Dog Dean Afternoon” – IMDB shows this as a 2013 release. Best Semiprozine: Orson Scott Card’s InterGalactic Medicine Show — It’s listed by Semiprozine.org as a professional publication, so may be ineligible.

Oh damn! I was so looking forward to reading Three Body Problem (not) for free!

Actually, it's excellent. I was disappointed that it didn't make it instead of Ancillary Sword. The amusing thing is Leckie winning a second year in a row would discredit the Hugos far more than any of our nominations.

It was supposed to be their little ghettoised sandbox / "safe space", where they could make the rules and toss out anybody who wasn't in the cool kids club. Who cares that the genre was dying on its arse? Not the SJW's. They were too busy fapping over non-gender-binary dinosaur stories and giving each other awards.

"Oh damn! I was so looking forward to reading Three Body Problem (not) for free!"

Actually, it's excellent.

OK, maybe I will have to spend some of my money to get it on Kindle. I based my initial assessment on how parochial the initial chapters seemed to be and the seemingly tortured similes etc. Of course, in some sense John Ringo's Aldenata series starts out somewhat parochially (if you are a Chinese reader, I guess) and fails to understand the rate of change in near-term tech etc.

Holy cow, I am laughing my butt off. this will be the most delightful SJW meltdown since I dunno when.

Expendable Minion, I feel ya bro. I'm an atheist & I don't particularly care for Mormons or Catholics, but SJWs just make me want to vomit. Regards the burning at the stake thing, you have to understand that in Vox's culture, it's considered a friendly greeting. We mustn't judge.

Looks like a minimum of over 100 votes increase between this year and last per category. Probably not enough to tip the balance in our favor from the SJWs, Tor-bots, and those who are just pissed off at both parties. Still, 3-400 is a good start.

"Actually, it's excellent. I was disappointed that it didn't make it instead of Ancillary Sword. The amusing thing is Leckie winning a second year in a row would discredit the Hugos far more than any of our nominations."

If she wins, as I expect her to, barring more recruitment, she's the Queen of the Asterisk. Had Neil Gaiman not refused his nom, he would have likely won last year, and it's likely she made it only because of Larry's refusal.

She picked up her ax and saw and began to clear the branches from the trunk. Every time she did this, she felt as though she were cleaning the corpse of a giant. Sometimes she even imagined the giant was her father.

If that is better writing than Lecke I shudder to think what Lecke's writing is like.

They can vote No Award. That is not even dishonest. If they pull it off, and this were a more respectable enemy from whom I could expect no spittle on my face, I would even congratulate them on a well played victory if they in fact pull it off.

But remember, the second battle has only just started. The cost of joining the second battle is $40. Do with that information what you will.

Yes, we have already won since that would cause an incredible brouhaha. It would raise awareness of Blue SF/F. But still, the best thing would be to sweep the actual awards too. That would be the best remedy against neoreactionary defeatism, which is currently our biggest obstacle.

Sure, it might be hard, and we might even lose. But think of it as part of establishing a record as Neoreactionary Original Gangster, before the masses follow and EVERYBODY claims they were with the movement all along.

Yes, we have already won since that would cause an incredible brouhaha.

The puppies have already won, as you said. No matter what happens with the final round of voting, the puppies have had their impact.

The organized response from the insiders (and they will come up with an organized response, because that's what they do) will be interesting to see, particularly given the way they found an avenue to banish VD from the SFWA.

Well, Tor's losing what little respect it might have once had. Honestly, since the main objections seem to be coming from Tor, who has historically had an unusually high fraction of the Hugo nominations, I think it might be time for a little ethics in science fiction...

The line that keeps coming to mind when I read about this people is from Sheriff Bart in "Blazing Saddles" (yes, I know): "They are soooo dumb!" For all that I'm sure they impressed their teachers in middle school and consider themselves intelligent, they're not at all bright. They have a certain amount of low cunning, but that fails them once you shine a light on it, and they have nothing else to replace it. NFL players are better at damage control than these fools. It's hard to believe they're literate enough to turn out bad books, let alone good ones.

The only way they are going to be able to fix this is by establishing some process by which prospective Hugo voters can be ideologically vetted prior to the nomination ballot. My guess is that the SMOFs will establish some sort of political-ideological version of the Verified Identification program that AirBnB uses. Potential Hugo voters will be required to submit proof of ideological purity (archived Failbook posts/friends lists), write an essay on Why There Can Be No Place in SF for racism/sexism/antiLGBTism etc., or obtain a nomination from an Ideologically Approved member in order to vote.

Well if the SP/RP slate needs to double its numbers (3-400), that shouldn't be too hard. $40 really is too cheap to pass this up. I'm a new voting member as of today and I have all the reading material I'll need for a while. Great bargain.

Merci. I have to say, of everything that has been said about the nominations, this is my absolute favorite.

"Vox promised the Dread Ilk would not break discipline the way last year’s SP voters obviously did. I believed him when he said it. The success of Rabid Puppies indicates to me that when the stats become available they will bear witness." - Mike Glyer, File 770

I never doubted any of you for a second. I even told Brad very early on that if there was going to be a surprise, it was going to be to the upside and that the Dread Ilk would provide it.

That $40 gives you access to the voting packet, the ability to vote on the final award ballot, and nominate again on next year's ballot. You only need to buy another supporting membership in next year's Worldcon, if you want to vote on the final ballot for next year.

And we will be adding another voter for this year and nominater for next year. I was telling my husband about it as we were sitting the car waiting for our youngest to get done with baseball practice and the nominations were rolling in. He doesn't read much sci-fi but he LOVES fantasy. He loves Dresden Files and loved "Awake in the Night Land", so I told him that both Butcher and Wright got nominations. Him: "That is who I would vote for." Me: "Well, you can, babe, just get a membership for yourself. Plus, you will get a lot of the other nominated works to read also. You might find some other stuff you really like. " Him: "Oh, yeah? Good idea. I can do it this year?"Me: "Yep. You can sign up tonight if you want."Him: "I will."

And he did. So, one more voter who cares about the quality of works and despises the politicization of works.

This comment by VD on file 707 made me laugh audibly. Especially the oh so on the money description of their Lizard Chuthulian god.

VD on April 4, 2015 at 4:27 pm said:And ye shall know them by their rape threats.

Actually, it’s usually the 7-digit losses, the advertisers cancelling contracts, and the number of people losing their jobs that gives it away.

As I told Mike, if GG showed up, there would be 21,000 votes, the wreckage of Tor would be parted out, and half its authors would be begging for money on Patreon with the unemployed GameJournoListers.

Last year they said we gamed the system. This year they claimed #GamerGate got involved. They’d better pray to whatever freakish Lovecraftian lizard gods they worship that there isn’t a pattern taking shape there.

At file 770, Moshe has responded with all guns blazing, in 2 posts. Here is the first:

Gosh, but I’m dazzled by your brilliance, apparently so bright that you can’t see the difference between bloc voting for individual works or persons and voting for an abstraction.

I’m asking people to vote for No Award (not a person named “Noah Ward,” please note), which is the escape clause the rules give us to signal that the process is broken.

I don’t expect you to understand how it’s broken. Clearly the principles you’re basing your argument are radically different from mine. In these late days of traditional fandom, as sad as that is, it’s not surprising.

The second post is longer. The gist of it is that Moshe's claiming to have learned about fandom from a lot of people, and is going to die on his "fannish principles" hill.

My little guys are so young they're still interested in pop up books and ones with crinkly nylon pages and pictures of cartoon animals in them. Maybe they'll be able to support Sad Puppies X, but hopefully we'll have cured puppy-related sadness by then. :-)

I have only a vague impression of the whole Indiana situation, but I don't mean that the pendulum would just teleport to the other end, and it would be just easy victories from here. I just mean, that the move to the other direction has started. The final result is inevitable, but it does require work and a good deal of pain.

I have only a vague impression of the whole Indiana situation, but I don't mean that the pendulum would just teleport to the other end, and it would be just easy victories from here. I just mean, that the move to the other direction has started. The final result is inevitable, but it does require work and a good deal of pain.

The thought occurs to me, this is what happens when you try to increase control by excluding ever more people. Eventually you reach the tipping point where more people are pissed at your control than consider themselves part of it.

They really mean it when they say you are not a fan of Science Fiction. They don't care that you've been reading or even writing science fiction for 20, thirty, even fifty years (since I was 6? Yes. I was a precocious child. I read From the Earth to the Moon at the age of 6). They don't care about your commitment to quality.

You've been excluded by The Warren. That The Warren now comprises 150 people s also beside the point.